Sophisicated Kid's Bedrooms

Here are two kid's bedrooms that I came across via Elle Decor and they belong to the children of actress Reese Witherspoon. I was impressed to see them very chic and sophisicated with antique furnishings. There is a 1830's Swedish table, a vintage chair and 1920's tole chandelier in the girl's bedroom, while the boy's room contains an antique desk, a Turkish rug and an Italian mirror. This is a nice change from the usual young people bedrooms that we usually see.
You can see the rest of Witherspoon's Ojai home here.
Photographs via Elle Decor.

Kitchen Under the Stairs

I am calling this week the 'challenging-little-kitchen-design' week. I have two kitchens that I am working on and one of them is located under  the stairs. Here are some great and stylish examples that I found.
Photographs via Remodelista.

A Portfolio of Interiors by Pia Ulin

A range of great interiors from the portfolio belonging to photographer, Pia Ulin. Ulin has recently updated her website with new images - see more of them here.
Photographs via Pia Ulin.

Walls of Flowers for Dior

Stunning walls of flowers for Raf Simons' couture debut in Paris.

Fashion designer Raf Simons with Diane Kruger for Vogue magazine.

"There were peonies, goldenrod, dahlias, carnations, delphiniums, orchids and all kinds of roses. Flowers splayed from floor to ceiling."
This is quite sensational - in early July, Dior created this visual feast for Raf Simons' couture debut. Five salons in Paris become the backdrop of colour as a million flowers were cut and arranged to create these stunning spaces. Imagine the fragrance!

Come behind-the-scenes as the Dior team painstakingly build the elaborate floral set for Raf Simons' couture debut in Paris.
Photographs via Dior Mag and Bureau Betak.

Auckland Home of Kate Alexander on Design Sponge

Kate Alexander

A 1950's bungalow in Auckland

 

 

It's always great to see friends doing well, especially when their cool home appears on a highly regarded blog like Design Sponge!

Kate Alexander, a clever friend from college days, is a successful graphic designer in Auckland. She is the managing director of Studio Alexander and the cool online New Zealand design store, Endemic World. Enjoy her home and read all about it here.

Photographs by Kristian Frires via Design Sponge.

 

 

Olympic Park Gardens

European planting by Sarah Price in the Olympic Park gardens.

Blue cornflowers and orange margiolds in the meadow around the stadium by Nigel Dunnett.

The South African border by Sarah Price with red gladioli and blue agapanthus.

A prarire inspired scheme with yellow rudbeckia and pink echinacea by Sarah Price.

A meadow of annuals by Nigel Dunnett.

The 'ribbon of gold' meadow by Nigel Dunnett.

The 2012 Olympics are over and there were so many aspects of great design throughout the whole event - from the buildings, the uniforms (and sneakers), the ceremonies, the Olympic torch and the branding. What I'm appreciating is the Olympic Park gardens - they were in full bloom during this epic sporting event and it is these gardens that soften the urban landscapes around the main Olympic locations. The overall effect of the planting is very 'natural', ie plants growing together in spontaneous drifts. However, they have been brought together deliberately to create a low-maintenance, long flowering display. Would it be great if all public spaces were like this? Lovely.
Photographs by Sarah Price and Nigel Dunnett via Telegraph.

Wellington and Miranda Kerr in NY Times

Miranda Kerr at Maranui Cafe. All photographs by Orlando Bloom.

At Boomrock station

At Newtown

On stairs in Miramar, close to Peter Jackson's studios.

At Red Rocks reserve (just down the road from where I live and work)

The boat sheds at Oriental Bay



Waitangi Park, near Oriental Bay.

Wellington gets a big mention and thumbs up in the latest NY Times 'T' magazine thanks to Australian model, Miranda Kerr and her hubby, actor Orlando Bloom. While Kerr reminisces, Bloom photographs his wife in the latest fashion at landmark locations around Wellington. Read the article here , where some of our cool locals are mentioned and what to do here in my hometown. What a great credit to our city - thanks, we're chuffed.
Photographs by Orlando Bloom via NYTimes.